One in 13 Iowans face hunger. According to the Iowa Food Bank Association, 7.3% of Iowans are struggling with hunger – nearly 230,000 people, including 80,190 children. Iowa’s deer hunters have been helping to provide protein through the state’s HUSH program. 

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Dan Henderson explains what the HUSH program is, “Basically what that is is Help Us Stop Hunger. So, if you harvest one too many deer or whatnot, and you know you just don’t want to throw them out into your acreage or whatnot, and you actually want somebody to get a benefit of the deer. One big thing is call that meat locker up, you can take that deer to them and then sign it over to them. And then they will be able to reach out to basically the deer exchange program or people who have already signed up and want deer meat but don’t you know actually go out and hunt deer or can’t hunt deer anymore.” 

Hunters can purchase extra antlerless-only deer permits and donate legally taken deer in Iowa.

According to the DNR, last year 3,022 deer were donated which generated nearly 530,000 meals. For a full list of the 2024 HUSH lockers across the state visit: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/Hunting/hushlockers.pdf